Valve

Abstract: Valve (1) comprising a valve housing (2) with a pressure inlet (3) and a pressure outlet (11), and where in the pressure inlet a valve seat (4) is arranged and a matching valve body (5), which is acted upon by a spring element (8) in the direction towards the valve seat (4) and thereby the closing position of the valve, and where in the housing damping means (12,13,14,15) are further arranged for controlled acting on the movement of the valve body (5) in the valve housing (2). The damping means (12,13,14,15) are arranged in such a manner, that the movement of the valve body (5) towards the valve seat (4) is damped more than the movement of the valve body (5) away from the valve seat (4).

Description: The present invention relates to valves of the type used for example in connection with hydraulic plant, where they are used among other things as overflow valves or safety valves, which open automatically when the hydraulic pressure in the plant exceeds a predetermined level. More specifically, the invention relates to valves comprising a valve housing with a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet, and where in the pressure inlet a valve seat is arranged and a matching valve body, where a damper comprises a defined damping volume with at least one movable pressure surface, which is connected with the valve body, and where the damping volume is in connection with the pressure outlet via an opening, where the damper is arranged in such a manner that the damping volume is increased when the valve body is moved away from the valve seat and conversely so that the movement of the valve body towards the valve seat is damped more than the movement away from the valve seat, and where the damping volume is defined by a cylinder element, which cylinder element is fixed in relation to the valve housing, and in which cylinder element a movable piston is arranged, which piston comprises said pressure surface and is connected to the valve body via a rod, which runs through a guide in the bottom of the cylinder element. Such valve is known from EP 0 065 593, which shows a non-return valve with means for damping. The valve body is connected to a piston, which is moveable in a cylinder, where the volume in the cylinder is divided by the piston. The volume over the piston is connected to the outlet of the valve through a channel in piston and valve body. The volume under the piston is connected to the outlet by a first channel in the valve housing, which first channel contains a flow restriction. The valve housing also contains a second channel, between the volume under the piston and the valve outlet, where the second channel contains a ball valve, that opens for flow from the valve outlet to the volume under the piston, and the ball valve closes for flow in the other direction. In this way the non-return valve is weekly damped when opening, and strongly damped when closing. However, this valve is not meant for a high differential pressure in the flow direction. The valve lacks a component for supplying a force to the valve disk in the closing direction. On the contrary, the valve is developed for the lowest possible pressure drop in the opening direction. With no pressure drop over the valve there can be no cavitation in the main medium flow, but the chamber under the throttling piston prevents the occurrence of a sub-pressure and thus of cavitation, in that a sub-pressure opens the ball valve and pressure balancing is effected through the channel to the medium outlet of the valve. Also US Patent No. 39 52 771 shows a valve, where the valve body is acted upon in a direction away from a valve seat as a consequence of the medium pressure on the pressure inlet of the valve, and where an elastic body acts on the valve body in the direction of the valve seat. The opening and closing movements of the valve body are damped, because behind the valve body there is a fluid-filled volume, which when the valve is closed is in connection with the pressure side of the valve via a servo valve, and thereby supplied with fluid, and when the valve body is moved in the opening direction, the servo valve is designed to connect the fluid-filled volume with the outlet side of the valve. Since according to US Patent No. 39 52 771 the valves act on the valve body with a relatively high damping of the opening movement of the valve and a small damping of the closing movement of the valve, these valves have the disadvantage that cavitation may occur at large pressure drops and high flow rate through the valve, if the pressure medium has a low boiling point. These valves are therefore unsuitable in plants using pressure media with low boiling point, such as plants where the pressure medium is water-based. The task forming the basis of the present invention is therefore to reduce the risk of cavitation and instability when using valves of the type indicated in the introduction in plant using pressure media with low boiling point, as for example water-based pressure media. This is achieved by using the valve according to claim 1. In this manner it is achieved that the valve body is moderately damped in its movement away from the valve seat and relatively strongly damped in its movement towards the valve seat, to the effect that as a consequence of a pressure rise at the pressure inlet of the valve, the valve body opens quickly with relatively low damping, and that the distance between the valve seat and the valve body is quickly increased at increased flow, without any substantial change of the flow over the valve seat, and so that the flow remains almost laminar, thus avoiding cavitation. It is ensured that instability is reduced, because the valve body is relatively strongly damped in its movement towards the valve seat, so that eigenfrequency phenomena in the valve body movement are avoided. A hydraulic damping is achieved, which is very simple in its design, and which is distinguished by long life. The hydraulic damping effects a vacuum in the damping volume as a consequence of the movement of the valve body away from the valve seat, and a steam pocket may develop in the damping volume, which causes low damping. At the same time fluid from the pressure outlet from the valve via the opening will gradually flow into the damping volume. If the valve body is then moved in the opposite direction, because the flow is reduced, the fluid is pressed out through the opening to the pressure outlet of the valve, causing a relatively high damping. By surrounding the spring with a tube as indicated, it is ensured that the spring is not acted directly upon by the fluid flow, which can cause an unwanted, unstable spring pressure. Claim 2 indicates an embodiment which makes it possible to adjust the pretensioning of the spring, and thereby the pressure required to activate the valve. By placing openings in the tube, as indicated in claim 3, it is achieved that the venting of the valve occurs automatically during operation. Claim 4 indicates a particularly suitable embodiment, whereby the cylinder body works as a throttle valve in the flow path between the pressure inlet and the pressure outlet of the valve, so that a pressure drop is created at the cylinder body, which further reduces the risk of cavitation at the valve seat. In the embodiment of the cylinder element indicated in claim 5, a uniform flow is achieved in the valve seat chamber, so that the valve body is acted uniformly upon on the whole circumference by the flow forces. As indicated in claim 6, the orifice between the damping volume and the pressure outlet of the valve consists of a slot between the piston and the cylinder element whereby a particularly simple construction is achieved, which is cheap to produce. An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the drawing, which shows a section of a valve with an arrangement according to the invention. The drawing shows an overflow valve 1 with a valve housing 2 with a pressure inlet 3 for connection to a hydraulic plant. The pressure inlet is provided with a valve seat 4, which by means of a thread is screwed into the pressure inlet 3 of the valve 1, so that the valve seat 4 can be replaced when required, so that for example in the same valve 1 several valve seats with different dimensions can be placed, whereby valves can be achieved with different characteristics by using one and the same valve housing 2. The thread can also be used for connecting the valve 1 to a hydraulic plant. At the valve seat 4 a valve body 5 is arranged, connected pivotally on a rod 6, so that the valve body 5 always bears firmly against the valve seat 4. The rod is slidingly mounted in a guide 7 in a cylinder body 22, which is fixed in relation to the valve housing 2, so that the valve body 5 together with the rod 6 can be slid to and from the valve seat 4. At the end turning away from the valve body, the rod 6 is acted upon by a coil spring 8, which thereby presses the valve body 5 to bear closely against the valve seat 4. In the valve housing, from the valve seat 4, are arranged a valve seat chamber 9 and a channel 10 to the pressure outlet 11 of the valve 1. Thus the valve 1 works in such a manner, that as a consequence of a hydraulic pressure on the pressure inlet 3, the valve body moves away from the valve seat 4, so that the valve opens. Thereby fluid will flow from the pressure inlet 3 via valve seat chamber 9 and canal 10, and out of the valve 1 at its pressure relief 11. According to the present invention the movement of the valve body 5 is damped, however, so that the damping of the movement of the valve body away from the valve seat 4 is less than of the movement towards the valve seat 4, because the guide 7 at the end turning away from the valve element 5 is designed with a cylinder bore 12 in the cylinder body 22, in which a piston 13 is placed, which is held by the rod 6. The piston 13 thereby moves synchronously in the axial direction with the rod 6 and the valve body 5, and a damping volume 14 is created between the piston 13 and the cylinder bore 12. Between the piston 13 and the cylinder bore a slot 15 (not shown) is created, which ensures a flow connection between the damping volume 14 and the pressure outlet. Thereby this damping volume 14 will be increased when the valve body 5 is moved away from the valve seat 4 and conversely, and the slot 15 is dimensioned in such a manner that in the damping volume 14, when the valve is operating, where the valve body is moved away from the valve seat, it is achieved that a gas pocket is created in the damping volume 14, whereby the damping of this movement is quite small. If the valve body 5 subsequently moves in the direction of the valve seat, the fluid in the damping volume 14 will be pressed out through the slot 15, whereby a relatively high damping of the movement is achieved. Thereby the risk is reduced of cavitation in the pressure medium during opening of the valve 1, because the valve 1 will open relatively quickly, while at the same time the relatively high damping of the movement of the valve body 5 towards the valve seat 4 results in a reduction of the risk of instability in the movement of the valve body 5 while the valve is open. The valve 1 can be arranged in such a manner, that the valve seat chamber 9 has a relatively large cross section at the valve seat, and the following channel 10 has a reduced cross section, so that a considerable pressure drop is achieved across the following channel 10, whereby the risk of cavitation at the valve seat 4 is further reduced. In addition, the coil spring 8 can be shielded from the pressure outlet 11 of the valve 1 in that the spring 8, as shown in the drawing, is arranged in a tube 16, which is provided with openings 17. This shielding will further reduce the risk of instability, because the contact pressure of the spring 8 is little influenced by the fluid flow. As shown in the drawing, the contact pressure of the valve body 5 on the valve seat 4 can be adjusted by means of the screw 18. This screw is connected via a contact face 19 to the coil spring 8, so that the contact surface 19 can be moved. Between the tube 16 and the contact surface 19 a clearance 20 is arranged, which forms a stop for the contact surface 19, so that this cannot be moved so much that the valve blocks. It is obvious that on the basis of the above description a specialist will be able to indicate alternative embodiments of such valves, which are based on the basic principle of the invention. For example, the guide 7, 12 may be an integrated part of the valve housing 2, or, as shown in the drawing, it may be detachable from the valve housing, which applies also to others of the components shown in the valve housing. This makes it possible, for example, to convert existing valve housings by installing a control device according to the present invention.

Claims: A valve comprising a valve housing (2) with a pressure inlet (3) and a pressure outlet (11), and where in the pressure inlet (3) a valve seat (4) is arranged and a matching valve body (5), where a damper comprises a defined damping volume (14) with at least one movable pressure surface (21), which is connected with the valve body (5), and where the damping volume (14) is in connection with the pressure outlet (11) via an opening (15), where the damper is arranged in such a manner that the damping volume (14) is increased when the valve body (5) is moved away from the valve seat (4) and conversely so that the movement of the valve body (5) towards the valve seat (4) is damped more than the movement away from the valve seat, and where the damping volume (14) is defined by a cylinder element (22) with closed bottom, which cylinder element is fixed in relation to the valve housing, and in which cylinder element (22) a movable piston (13) is arranged, which piston (13) comprises said pressure surface (21) and is connected to the valve body (5) via a rod (6), which runs through a guide (7) in the bottom of the cylinder element (22), characterised in that, the valve body (5) is acted upon by an elastic element (8) in the direction towards the valve seat (4), said elastic element (8) being in the shape of a coiled pressure spring (8), which at one end is in contact with the side of the piston (13), which turns away from the damping volume (14), and with its other end is in contact with a contact surface (19), which is fixed in relation to the valve housing (2), where the spring is enclosed by a tube (16), whose interior volume is connected with the pressure outlet of the valve through openings (17) in the tube (16). A valve according to claim 1, characterised in that by means of a screw (18), which is mounted in a thread fixed in relation to the valve housing (2), the contact surface (19) is adjustably movable in the valve housing for the purpose of adjusting the pre-tensioning of the spring (8). A valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the openings (17) in the tube (16) are placed on the same level as the piston/spring transition (8, 13). A valve according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the cylinder element (22) is placed in the flow path between a valve seat chamber (9) and the pressure outlet (11) of the valve. A valve according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cylinder element (22) is provided with a number of channels (10), which are placed symmetrically at the circumference of the cylinder element. A valve according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the opening between the pressure outlet (11) and the damping volume (14) consists of a slot (15) between the piston (13) and the cylinder element (22). The application of a valve according to one or several of the claims 1-5 in connection with plants comprising water-based pressure media.

Inventors: HAUGAARD ERIK, PLAUBORG ERIK, HAUGAARD, ERIK, PLAUBORG, ERIK
Applicants: DANFOSS AS, DANFOSS A/S
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F16K47
IPC codes: F16K47